Northwest Rankin's Cameron Carroll is headed home with his commitment to Tulane

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Northwest Rankin running back Cameron Carroll powers his way up field avoiding the tackles of Starkville’s Zach Edwards and D’Angelo Scales.(Photo: Jacob Follin, For The Clarion-Ledger)

Cameron Carroll is a 'Sip Boy but he's from the boot and he's taking his Mississippi-learned talent back to his hometown of New Orleans.

Carroll, a Northwest Rankin running back, gave his verbal commitment to Tulane Monday morning, Tweeting, "Through a lot of thinking and praying I have come to the conclusion that I will be continuing my career and education at Tulane University."

Although Carroll has adopted the "'Sip boy" mentality, he said he'll always be a proud New Orleans native. In the second grade Carroll, his two siblings Damien and Mia Carroll and his mother Tracy Carroll Kimbrough moved to Jackson following Hurricane Katrina.

It wasn't long before the family planted roots in Rankin County but for them, New Orleans would always be home.

"There's just something special about it," Carroll said. "I'm from New Orleans so going back to my hometown, I get a chance to be where I was before. I love it in New Orleans"

Carroll added a Tulane offer this summer to his list of others that included Jackson State, South Alabama and Southern Miss. For Carroll what separated Tulane from the others was the coaching staff and the environment. Carroll said he didn't know exactly how to describe it but the feeling felt right at Tulane.

Those close to the Tulane program believe their style of offense fits Carroll well. His speed and ability to change direction for someone of his size will give him a great chance of playing early on in his career. Most impressive though might be his leadership qualities.

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Northwest Rankin's Cameron Carroll (16) jumps high in the air in an effort to avoid Pearl's Darmario Nichols (11). Pearl and Northwest Rankin played in an MHSAA Class 6A football game at Pearl on Friday, September 1, 2017.(Photo: Keith Warren/For The Clarion-Ledger)

"They told me that they definitely weren't going to redshirt me," Carroll said. "They've been looking for a big running back. They told me once I get there, get the plays down, I'm more than likely going to be looking at a lot of playing time."

In six games Carroll has gained 928 yards on 122 carries for five touchdowns. He's helped lead Northwest Rankin to a 4-2 record.

Carroll joins teammate Nikolas Hogan and South Panola quarterback Patrick Shegog as the Green Wave's 2018 commits from Mississippi. Hogan said he's known for a couple days about Carroll's commitment but has been recruiting him for weeks.

"Cam and I are very close," Hogan said. "It's always good to know he will be my running back for more years to come."